The County is being left on steady footing, Mayor Robert Quaiff told the press following his last levee address as mayor before throwing down the gauntlet to represent his community on the provincial stage.
Quaiff will be the Liberal candidate for the upcoming provincial election — which tees up a contest with incumbent MPP Todd Smith who was in attendance at Quaiff’s term-closing civic address at the Macaulay Church in Picton on Sunday.
Quaiff noted since he and council took office, they had replenished a dwindled pot of reserves, which sat at a meager $450,000 at the time.
“Prior to the 2018 budget we had $11.5 million,” said the outgoing mayor, who’s looking at mere weeks before launching his official provincial campaign. “I think we’ve done a really good job here. We built up our reserves from scratch.”
As for his decision to challenge Smith, Quaiff said it’s “a brand new opportunity for me.”
Quaiff hinted at what swayed him towards the Liberal camp.
“I, over the last four years, have come to express my concerns to (Progressive Conservative party leader) Patrick Brown and we never got those concerns addressed,” Quaiff said.
The Liberal’s were more receptive.
“Their thoughts and ideas were the same as mine,” he said. “I know I’m in tough, but I don’t go into anything to lose.”
In his civic address Quaiff said council and staff remain committed to encouraging stable employment and affordable housing,
“We want to make sure residents can continue to access health care services in our community,” he said.
Among the slate of key issues taking centre stage this year is the redevelopment of Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital, along with a desire to have more long-term care beds allocated.
“Stage one (hospital redevelopment) proposal is now before the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care,” he said. The plans include a recommended site, details of service delivery and space plan and cost estimate. “It’s a long-term project with several planning stages.”
In early 2018 staff will unveil its vision for the long-term care facility over the next two years, part of which focuses on ensuring H.J. MacFarland Memorial Home continues to meet its goal of providing top-notch resident care.
“Access to health care services is vital if we want our rural community to grow and flourish,” he said. “That’s why we seek to promote healthy and active living.”
Other issues will require attention.
“One of the conversations we’re going to have soon is the farm tax ratio,” he said. “We’re going to have to tackle that issue.”
He said council is driving ahead with a framework of 32 recommendations aimed at encouraging growth.
Construction activity totalled $123.7 million, an increase of $40 million compared to 2016.
“Despite the wet spring, tourism traffic remained strong in 2017,” he said. “We launched our new official tourism website.”
Online resident attraction tools led to 130 new business inquiries in 2017, with a total of $65 million in start-ups’ relocation or expansion, he said.
“Professional and health care service sectors are growing in Prince Edward County,” he said.
The manufacturing industry is also sending positive signals of expansions and job offerings in 2018.
“Attracting and maintaining talented staff is a major issue in The County,” he said. “The availability of diverse housing options is a major contributing factor. This issue is too important to ignore.”
Council has set aside $250,000 to cultivate solutions for affordable housing.
“We know we’re in a crisis mode with that, so we have to start scratching the surface,” he said.
Infrastructure upgrades, including replenishing the water treatment plant and several roads are earmarked.
“In 2018 the municipality will undertake approximately $9 million in roads and bridges projects,” he said. “We will also complete a study of County Road 49.”